Am I the only one who found Mike's (of LA) post a clever bit of tongue-in-cheek? I found it a laugh-inducing send-up.

That said, most forum post interpretations seem to overlook the possibility of tongue-in-cheek.

The abundant use of smileys usually helps.

Mike (of Oakland)

No doubt! But, what fun would it be, if it were not for the likes of people like Mike? (the other Mike)He does not make vile threats or anything like that. One thing he does point out, is the fact that people complain about things like the 990 that theynever can afford or may not even want to. And his point is, why comment or complain if you will never actually own one? But, he does forget one thing, we are all human and have thoughts, good or bad......or even indifferent, about all sorts of things in life. Expecting such a huge variety of people to not make comments, is bit on the silly side to me. After all, this is a public forum andthey do allow quite a bit of freedom of speech. (within reason of course) Who knows? One day I might even purchase a FT-990!!! jamesWD5GWY

And you display imaginative ideas for the "elite" forum!But please James, isn't it a bit much to wall it off ?

I mean the President spoke in his Inaugural speech wantingto reduce "inequality'. You know, we're all supposed to be alike, make the same amount of money, have good homes, free educationand health care and no suffering. I mean in this climate Jamesyour proposals could be construed as not working towardthe President's warm hearted goal. Let us work together tomake for a more equal world. I'm willing to give some old coax cable to a new Ham. What say you James?

I do look forward to continued exchanges with you James. Your fertile mindis not what I would have expected from a Truck driver. And one of culture at that!

Warm regards and with all humility,mike

Mike, I drive a Kenworth because that is what my employer has available. And it is a FAST truck andquite capable of costing me (and my fellow employees) money should I not pay close attention to my speed! As for "walling off" the Elite forum, I don't see how that would interfere with our president's goals. If his equality goals as you mentioned were truly equal, we would all be riding in limos and jets. (Paid for by the taxpayers of course) Especially, since that is his current living conditions.BUT, he has never invited me to Camp David, and I'm fairly certain that he won't. So, given hisexample, the likelihood of everyone living in a truly equal society is pretty poor. Besides all that,what joy in life would there be if everything was handed to you and you had no real purpose in life beyond taking with no effort on your part? That is why, (to me) Socialism has been and will always be, a failed experiment. Our country was built on the premise that we all have an equal"opportunity" in life, and the chance, thru our own resourcefulness, to achieve our personal goals. That is why you should create your own website, for your elite class of Amateur Radio operators. That way, when the up and coming masses, move up in society, they will be better prepared to enter into your elite group. In other words, they work towards a goal and either achieve it orat least attempt it. Handing it over with no effort would be of no value. As for donating old coax to a new ham, how about mentoring instead? You have heard of Elmering, haven't you? What better way to do your part to improve the quality of Amateur operators, than to guide some new individual along the path of enlightenment? Of course, that would mean coming out of your "walled off" forum and mingling with the lowerclasses!!! But, I'm sure you could soldier on and be successful in such an endeavor!jamesWD5GWY

Edit: Mike, I just did a quick search on you..........very interesting indeed!! You already have your own website. Now, all you have to do is build the forum you want and administer it!! I find that some of your Twitter comments are interesting as well !!(see what happens when a truck driver has some time off!)

Now you're talking! In 30 years, if the FT-990 is really a game-changer, it will be a favorite "boatanchor" just like a Collins S line is now, which "performs just as well" as the latest 2040 model computer-based, Altoid-tin-sized, solar-powered, knob-free, "pocket kilowatt" designed by the descendants of Elecraft.

Now you're talking! In 30 years, if the FT-990 is really a game-changer, it will be a favorite "boatanchor" just like a Collins S line is now, which "performs just as well" as the latest 2040 model computer-based, Altoid-tin-sized, solar-powered, knob-free, "pocket kilowatt" designed by the descendants of Elecraft.

Couldn't you move the timetable for that "pocket killowatt" up a bit? In another 27 years, I may not be here. Or, just be sitting somewhere drooling on myself!!! jamesWD5GWY

At the end of the day, 'ol LA Mike may have accomplished his missionI suspect that he was hired by an internet SEO company. They "seed" forums and blogs in order to create buzz about a new product or web site. This one went a little "pear shaped", but it still created hits on the product page!

I went to the site to see what it was. Didn't you guys do the same?He bills himself as a "media professional" and something called "MEWCOMM".

Did you notice that he didn't answer my original question about his affiliations?

At the end of the day, 'ol LA Mike may have accomplished his missionI suspect that he was hired by an internet SEO company. They "seed" forums and blogs in order to create buzz about a new product or web site. This one went a little "pear shaped", but it still created hits on the product page!

I went to the site to see what it was. Didn't you guys do the same?He bills himself as a "media professional" and something called "MEWCOMM".

Did you notice that he didn't answer my original question about his affiliations?

Yep, I noticed that too! Reading the Google hits on Mike is quite an eye opener. I do believeI have heard the "dawg" on the air before. But, usually when I hear that sort of drivel, I justspin the dial. However, these few posts here have been very entertaining and that is why I havecontinued to respond to his posts. He has remained civil, (at least in this thread) and as longas it stays that way, I will have no problems sparring with him. jamesWD5GWY

I seldom see such a compilation of logical fallacies and gross stereotypes in one post but WA4D seems to have accomplished it all with this one. Congratulations are in order and as well as the nomination for “troll post of the year”.

Well, let's see, three different topics in 'Misc' from WA4D all singing the praises of the TS-990, it looks like the check arrived in the mail.

As for the "achievers, the educated and the affluent" thing, I score two out of three so it looks like I won't be getting a TS-990 real soon now. My father was not an educated man, he was a plasterer rather than a truck driver, but he made damn sure that by the time I was seven I could read and write Hebrew and English to a standard good enough to make the Rabbii smile. He also made sure that my brother and I headed off for the library every Monday night after school because he wanted to make sure his sons didn't end up like him.

I have no desire to own a Rolls Royce or a Ferrari (or a Lamborghini for that matter) but if I see one with the hood up I'm going to look inside because high quality engineering in any form interests me. The same applies to the high-end HF rigs but whilst I might want a look inside the TS-990 I sure don't want to own one, that rig is ugly. IF I had the antennas and the location to justify it then I would purchase an Icom IC-7800 but my education, my achievements in life and my affluence doesn't enter into it.

Not enough Dad's like yours any more Tanakasan. Discipline and Values are fading in the US. Divorce rates are at new records in the US and the absence of a father in the house is a huge issue for some groups.

You say, IF I had the antennas and the location to justify it then I would purchase an Icom IC-7800 but my education, my achievements in life and my affluence doesn't enter into it.

I'll have to disagree with your comment. Your persona indeed your pride in your Father's guidance are a reflection of those traits. They all influence who you are and shape and mold you just as they do the vast majority of people. That you wouldn't buy this particular radio, is a decision you've made as a result of your intellectual depth, your beliefs and values. And one might speculate your refusal to let "emotion" cloud your judgement. You characterize the 990 as an "ugly" radio. In your view it is. This is a result of your education and perhaps aesthetic preferences or even a denied bias within. (I don't know). What I do know is we are the sum of our experiences and make choices on that basis. And education, achievements and the resulting affluence (or lack thereof) are who you are.

I'm sure the Rabbi is smiling.

BTW I haven't received any renumeration for JVC/Kenwood. Why would I? I'm enthusiastic and believe it's an innovative rig. That said, I find the whole concept of "Big Iron" radio to be passé and even vulgar. This idea that you put a pile of rf gear on a table and hang unsightly wires and various ornaments outside your home to talk with middle aged to elderly men is a ridiculous concept. The 990 calls like a dream to the kid that learned Morse in 1965 on an ARC-5 (ok the 7800 if you prefer)-- but then you turn it on and hear the same meaningless drivelthat has defined ham radio for decades.Stick to CW!

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